Does pet insurance cover pre-existing digestive conditions?

It’s just about inevitable. At some point in your pets life, they will experience some type of tummy trouble, whether that’s vomiting after eating something they shouldn’t have or diarrhea caused by an illness. Every pet parent wants to know if their pet insurance policy will cover their pets digestive conditions. Others want to know if one episode of vomiting when their pet was a puppy or kitten will prevent them from having insurance coverage when they’re two years old.

When it comes to pet insurance, the general rule is that if your pet had signs, symptoms, or an existing diagnosis at the time you enrolled in a policy, that condition would be considered pre-existing and excluded from coverage. There are two prevalent categories of pre-existing conditions: Curable and Incurable. The majority of pet insurance providers offer coverage for curable pre-existing conditions that have remained symptom-free for a consecutive period ranging from 180 days to 12 months.

This means that if your pet has not required treatment or shown symptoms for at least 180 to 365 consecutive days, it may be considered a new occurrence and not treated as a pre-existing condition. Check your specific policy for the timeframe your pet must not have signs or symptoms of their condition to be considered cured.

Curable pre-existing conditions typically involve temporary health concerns that were successfully addressed and resolved prior to your insurance purchase. These can encompass issues such as respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, as well as episodes of vomiting and diarrhea.

Can you get pet insurance retroactively?

Pet insurance can be purchased anytime however coverage cannot be provided retroactively. If your pet exhibits signs of an illness or injury prior to obtaining the policy or during the waiting period, it is classified as a pre-existing condition and is generally not eligible for coverage.

Please note that specific coverage details and exclusions may vary depending on the insurance provider and the policy you choose. It’s essential to carefully read the policy terms, ask questions to the insurance provider, and ensure you understand the coverage and limitations before enrolling in a pet insurance policy.